News of record for July 15, 2003

July 15, 2003 12:00 am

TUOLUMNE COUNTY

Sheriff's reports

SUNDAY

6:40 a.m., Cold Springs  A man on the 25400 block of Bambi Lane said he returned to his home from a neighbor's house and found his television had been unplugged and his VCR was on the floor. His car keys also were in a different place. Nothing had been taken, he said.

8:43 a.m., Twain Harte  A woman on the 19800 block of Sunset Drive said someone damaged a statue and lights on her property.

6:06 p.m., Jamestown  Callers said there were about a dozen people between two apartment buildings on the 10200 block of Preston Lane yelling and screaming at each other. One caller heard a man say something about getting a gun. The crowd disbursed before deputies arrived.

8:16 p.m., Quail Hollow  A woman on the 12700 block of Chukar Circle said her apartment was burglarized, possibly by someone she knows.

YESTERDAY

12:22 a.m., East Sonora  A caller said a 12-year-old boy was left alone in a green station wagon parked all day Sunday at The Junction shopping center while adults went to the fair.

12:35 a.m., Twain Harte  A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor assault and battery after paramedics found a woman on the 23000 block of Joaquin Gully Road who had been beaten.

Felony bookings

SATURDAY

11:29 a.m., Tuolumne  James Duane Kurth Jr., 31, of the 18700 block of Cedar Street, Tuolumne, booked on suspicion of making criminal threats and misdemeanor battery after an arrest at his house. He remained in custody this morning in lieu of $25,000 bail.

9:23 p.m., Sonora  Alan Ray Gibson, 40, unknown address, Sonora, booked on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of a hypodermic needle after an arrest on the 300 block of Fairview Lane, Sonora. He remained in custody this morning in lieu of $10,000 bail.

According to a sheriff's report, a deputy stopped Bramlett for driving a car with a broken windshield. Bramlett, who is on probation for a drug conviction, was searched and a deputy found the dagger in his pocket. He was released after posting $5,000 bail.

Jonah Jonathan Ionaka Battle, 18, 20600 block of Chief Fuller Way, Mi-Wuk Village, booked at 1:42 a.m. Saturday after arrest on Snell and Wyckoff streets, Sonora. He was also booked on suspicion of being a minor under the influence of alcohol.

John Nelson McClure IV, 32, 22400 block of South Airport Road, Columbia, booked at 2:02 a.m. Sunday after arrest on Greenley Road north of Delnero Road, Sonora. He also was booked on suspicion of driving with a drivers license suspended because of a previous drunken driving conviction.

11:50 a.m., Big Oak Flat area  A vehicle fire was reported on Highway 120 near Priest-Coulterville Road. Damage was estimated at $500 to a GMC pickup. The fire was started by debris on the catalytic converter. Thomas Martin of Livermore owns the truck. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, one air attack plane and one helicopter from Columbia Air Base, Tuolumne County Fire Department and Groveland Community Services District Fire Department responded.

2:30 p.m., Sonora  A small spot fire was reported on Highway 49 near Old Columbia Way. Cause of the fire is undetermined. Caltrans owns the land. CDF, Tuolumne County Fire Department, Sonora City Fire Department, two air tankers and one helicopter from Columbia Air Base responded.

SUNDAY

5:15 p.m., Jacksonville area  A small spot fire was reported on the 14200 block of Lulu Mine Road. No dollar damage was reported. Chris Slater of the same address owns the property. CDF, Tuolumne County Fire Department, three crews from Baseline Conservation Camp, one air attack plane and one helicopter from Columbia Air Base responded.

Sonora police reports

SUNDAY

9:09 a.m., animal complaints  A caller said three dogs were left inside a car on the 2000 block of Sanguinetti Road for about 40 minutes. When a man and woman came back to the car, the caller said something to them about the dogs and the couple yelled profanities at the caller and drove off.

10:23 a.m., animal complaints  A dog was left inside a brown car while the owner went into a restaurant on the 800 block of Mono Way.

According to a sheriff's department report, on Friday, a teenage boy walking on Sierra Trail Drive in San Andreas was approached by two men who demanded the teen's cell phone. The men refused to return the phone and threatened to assault the teen before walking away.

Later, about 9:30 p.m., a man matching the description of one of the men who stole the phone was seen riding a bicycle on California Street. A deputy talked to the man, who was later identified as Hollabaugh, and believed Hollabaugh was under the influence of alcohol and arrested him. While searching Hollabaugh, the deputy said, he found the cell phone and took Hollabaugh to the county jail.

About an hour later, Breitter was also booked into the county jail on suspicion of public intoxication and disturbing the peace after an arrest in San Andreas. The teen was shown a photo lineup and picked both men out as the two men who stole his cell phone.

Hollabaugh remained in custody this morning in lieu of $110,000 bail. Breitter was being held in lieu of $60,000 bail.

SATURDAY

1:05 a.m., Valley Springs  Jennifer Dawn Martin, 27, and Tony Bryan Martin Sr., 39, both of the 7800 block of Highway 12, Wallace, were both booked on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance and destroying evidence after an arrest on Highway 12.

Tony Martin also was booked on suspicion of driving with a license suspended for refusing to take a chemical test. Jennifer Martin also was booked on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance without a prescription.

He remained in custody this morning in lieu of $22,500 bail. She remained held in lieu of $35,000 bail.

8:30 a.m., San Andreas  Ross Lavar Thornton Jr., 39, 10000 block of Fricot City Road, San Andreas, booked on suspicion of kidnapping, false imprisonment, attempted theft of a law enforcement car and misdemeanor resisting arrest, after an arrest on Ponderosa Way, Murphys.

According to a sheriff's report, Thornton was at a Ponderosa Way home when he grabbed a woman, dragged her across the yard and refused to let her go. When a deputy arrived, Thornton threatened to steal the patrol car and told the officer "You'll have to stop me," the sheriff's report said.

Thornton then opened the patrol car door and got in before the deputy was able to arrest Thornton. He remained held this morning in lieu of $127,500 bail.

8:35 p.m., Valley Springs  Sherrie Marie Winkler, 34, 3500 block of Huckleberry Lane, Valley Springs, booked on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance after arrest on the 200 block of Highway 12. She was released after posting $15,000 bail.

12:25 p.m., San Andreas  Patrick Lester Steelman, 40, 1900 block of Gold Strike Road, San Andreas, booked on suspicion of burglary and forgery and a misdemeanor warrant charging him with failure to appear after an arrest at his home. No details were available. He remained in custody this morning in lieu of $10,000 bail.

6:37 p.m., Mokelumne Hill  Craig Carney Conner, 48, undisclosed address in Wilseyville, booked on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia after arrest on Highway 49 in Mokelumne Hill. His bail is $25,000, but he remained in custody this morning on a parole hold.

7:59 p.m., Lake Camanche  Ajamen Armandi Hayes, 21, 7000 block of Remo Way, Sacramento, booked on suspicion of possessing marijuana for sale after an arrest at the marina on Lake Camanche. He was released Sunday morning after posting $35,000 bail.

9:15 p.m., Lake Camanche area  Floyd Willie Armbrester, 25, 800 block of Davis Street, San Leandro, booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm and misdemeanor disorderly conduct after an arrest on the south shore of Lake Camanche. He was released Sunday after posting $20,000 bail.

SUNDAY

12:20 a.m., San Andreas area  Jonathan Jeoffery Gurzenski, 20, 1800 block of Climax, Jackson, booked on suspicion of possessing marijuana for sale after arrest at an undisclosed address on Highway 49. He remained in custody this morning in lieu of $35,000 bail.

12:37 a.m., Valley Springs  A 49-year-old Valley Springs man booked on suspicion of felony spousal battery after arrest at his home. He was released Sunday afternoon after posting $50,000 bail.

12:20 a.m., Valley Springs  Patrick Edward Downer, 35, 6200 block of Thomas Street, Valley Springs, booked on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance after arrest on Highway 49, San Andreas. He remained in custody this morning in lieu of $10,001 bail.

Fires

SATURDAY

4:45 p.m., San Andreas area  A 5-acre fire was reported on the 8700 block of Jenny Lind Road. The fire was caused by equipment use. Damage was estimated at $10,000 to a roof and vehicles. Landowner is undetermined. CDF, San Andreas Fire Protection District, Foothill Fire Protection District, one dozer, two air tankers from Columbia Air Base and three crews from Vallecito Conservation Camp responded.

SUNDAY

1 p.m., Jenny Lind  A half-acre grass fire was reported on the 3100 block of Butler Lane. Cause of the fire and landowner were undetermined. CDF, Foothill Fire Protection District, one dozer from Altaville CDF, one crew from Vallecito Conservation Camp, one air attack plane and two helicopters responded.